Chapter five:
I ended up working as an information broker and an errand runner. I got hired as a spy, a procurer, and many other miscellaneous jobs. Nobody knew who I was, or where I stayed. They knew if they asked around that I would find them for the job. Occasionally, I shared the information with Austen, who in turn told the queen. We both had strong enough mindspeech to keep in touch without anyone else realizing it except her Companion, who promised not to say a word.
Most of the time I knocked on her shields and waited awhile until she could get back to me, but this time was different. I waited impatiently until they cracked a little bit open.
:Hurry up!!! This is important.:
:Sorry,: She replied. :I'm in an important meeting with the Queen and Herald Talia.:
:Blood is in town and is going to try to kill the Queen and her family. She brought all of the other Masters with her. She even brought some of the Servants. There are seven of them total. All of the Masters, Sword and Hands are here. They got here yesterday and are going to attack tomorrow. Blood is going to the Queen, and the others are going for Prince Daren, Princess Elspeth, Princess Lyra, and Prince Kris. Double on Daren and Elspeth. Tell them so they can prepare. I don't know how they are planning to get in yet. I've got to go now, they're leaving the building now.: I rushed through this showing many pictures to tell it faster. When I finished, I slammed my shields up and didn't answer when she tried to talk back. They were all leaving and I had to follow them.
I didn't know that Blood had noticed me until I couldn't move anymore. Hands turned back and swung me up over her shoulders and they took me along. I was taken to a mansion and realized how they would get in; one of them was a noble. They would just walk in and no one would say a word.
I tried to talk to Austen again, but Blood was blocking me. I was taken to a room that was very familiar. It was identical to Master Alan's torture room. I was dropped to the floor and the binding spell was lifted off of me. I could move, but I still couldn't contact Austen.
"You can't break through my shields child, so don't even try. Now, why don't you tell us what you've already told," Blood said calmly.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I was just goin' to the store when I saw yo..." My mouth snapped shut as she backhanded me into the wall. I really hated it when that happened and vowed not to tell her a thing.
That night was worse than anything else I had ever had to endure. I was burned, beaten, cut, and given nightmares. I was shown what would happen to everyone I knew if I didn't tell them what I had said and who I had said it to. It didn't even stop when I was unconscious. Mind just sent pictures into my head. None of my bones were broken, thankfully, but they might as well have been for all I wanted to move.
Early in the morning they had left in disgust when I still didn't speak. I had been left whimpering in a corner. I kept track of them with my mind and knew when they left to launch their attack. There plan was very simple, kill the people and get out without getting caught. If you got caught and couldn't kill the person who caught you, you killed yourself. They were doing this because they were tired of the Queen finding and giving the Servants the death sentence.
After they left, I slammed at Blood's shields and realized they were no longer there. She had thought I would stay unconscious and not be a problem. I quickly contacted Austen :They are on their way. One of them is a noble so they can get in easy. I'll show you what they all look like. Sorry I can't do more, but they caught me last night. Tell me how it ends up, okay?: I showed her what they looked like and waited for an answer.
:Great, I've got them sent out to everyone who can receive. They got you last night? Are you okay?:
:Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing a little time won't cure. Just tell me what happens later, okay?:
:Alright fine, but then you'll tell me where you are, and no arguments. You're only thirteen, and shouldn't have to do everything yourself. Besides, I had to tell the Queen who my informant was. She wants you back here also. She will want to thank you, too. Oh, gotta go. Something's happening. They got here quick. Don't worry; we've got a lot of guards and Heralds hidden to protect everyone. We called in all of them today.: She broke off in a hurry after telling me this.
It seemed like hours before she got back to me, but in actuality it was only about 45 minutes.
:Ria, you still okay?: I heard her call out to me.
:Yeah, I'm the same as before. Did you kill all of them?:
:Blood got away. You need to tell us where you are so she can't get to you.: She spoke urgently and I hurried to ease her fear.
:Don't worry, I'm on my way out right now. She won't get me again if I can help it.: I said this forcefully, and forced my legs to support my weight. The first thing I had to do was to find clothes. :I'll talk to you later, after I'm out of here.:
I didn't wait for a reply, and closed my shields. I hobbled through the halls, whimpering with every movement. Cuts that were starting to scab broke open again, and burned skin was stretched. I ached all over, but I had to get out of this house. I finally found someone's bedroom and I raided their drawers for clothes. I left my feet bare, but I found pants and a long sleeved shirt. I grabbed some that were loose enough not to stick to the wounds, and tight enough not to rub them raw.
I worked my way slowly outside and was two streets away when I 'felt' her return to her house. I quickly contacted Austen, and told her where it was. I reassured her again that I was okay, a total lie, and shielded once more.
I ended up working as an information broker and an errand runner. I got hired as a spy, a procurer, and many other miscellaneous jobs. Nobody knew who I was, or where I stayed. They knew if they asked around that I would find them for the job. Occasionally, I shared the information with Austen, who in turn told the queen. We both had strong enough mindspeech to keep in touch without anyone else realizing it except her Companion, who promised not to say a word.
Most of the time I knocked on her shields and waited awhile until she could get back to me, but this time was different. I waited impatiently until they cracked a little bit open.
:Hurry up!!! This is important.:
:Sorry,: She replied. :I'm in an important meeting with the Queen and Herald Talia.:
:Blood is in town and is going to try to kill the Queen and her family. She brought all of the other Masters with her. She even brought some of the Servants. There are seven of them total. All of the Masters, Sword and Hands are here. They got here yesterday and are going to attack tomorrow. Blood is going to the Queen, and the others are going for Prince Daren, Princess Elspeth, Princess Lyra, and Prince Kris. Double on Daren and Elspeth. Tell them so they can prepare. I don't know how they are planning to get in yet. I've got to go now, they're leaving the building now.: I rushed through this showing many pictures to tell it faster. When I finished, I slammed my shields up and didn't answer when she tried to talk back. They were all leaving and I had to follow them.
I didn't know that Blood had noticed me until I couldn't move anymore. Hands turned back and swung me up over her shoulders and they took me along. I was taken to a mansion and realized how they would get in; one of them was a noble. They would just walk in and no one would say a word.
I tried to talk to Austen again, but Blood was blocking me. I was taken to a room that was very familiar. It was identical to Master Alan's torture room. I was dropped to the floor and the binding spell was lifted off of me. I could move, but I still couldn't contact Austen.
"You can't break through my shields child, so don't even try. Now, why don't you tell us what you've already told," Blood said calmly.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I was just goin' to the store when I saw yo..." My mouth snapped shut as she backhanded me into the wall. I really hated it when that happened and vowed not to tell her a thing.
That night was worse than anything else I had ever had to endure. I was burned, beaten, cut, and given nightmares. I was shown what would happen to everyone I knew if I didn't tell them what I had said and who I had said it to. It didn't even stop when I was unconscious. Mind just sent pictures into my head. None of my bones were broken, thankfully, but they might as well have been for all I wanted to move.
Early in the morning they had left in disgust when I still didn't speak. I had been left whimpering in a corner. I kept track of them with my mind and knew when they left to launch their attack. There plan was very simple, kill the people and get out without getting caught. If you got caught and couldn't kill the person who caught you, you killed yourself. They were doing this because they were tired of the Queen finding and giving the Servants the death sentence.
After they left, I slammed at Blood's shields and realized they were no longer there. She had thought I would stay unconscious and not be a problem. I quickly contacted Austen :They are on their way. One of them is a noble so they can get in easy. I'll show you what they all look like. Sorry I can't do more, but they caught me last night. Tell me how it ends up, okay?: I showed her what they looked like and waited for an answer.
:Great, I've got them sent out to everyone who can receive. They got you last night? Are you okay?:
:Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing a little time won't cure. Just tell me what happens later, okay?:
:Alright fine, but then you'll tell me where you are, and no arguments. You're only thirteen, and shouldn't have to do everything yourself. Besides, I had to tell the Queen who my informant was. She wants you back here also. She will want to thank you, too. Oh, gotta go. Something's happening. They got here quick. Don't worry; we've got a lot of guards and Heralds hidden to protect everyone. We called in all of them today.: She broke off in a hurry after telling me this.
It seemed like hours before she got back to me, but in actuality it was only about 45 minutes.
:Ria, you still okay?: I heard her call out to me.
:Yeah, I'm the same as before. Did you kill all of them?:
:Blood got away. You need to tell us where you are so she can't get to you.: She spoke urgently and I hurried to ease her fear.
:Don't worry, I'm on my way out right now. She won't get me again if I can help it.: I said this forcefully, and forced my legs to support my weight. The first thing I had to do was to find clothes. :I'll talk to you later, after I'm out of here.:
I didn't wait for a reply, and closed my shields. I hobbled through the halls, whimpering with every movement. Cuts that were starting to scab broke open again, and burned skin was stretched. I ached all over, but I had to get out of this house. I finally found someone's bedroom and I raided their drawers for clothes. I left my feet bare, but I found pants and a long sleeved shirt. I grabbed some that were loose enough not to stick to the wounds, and tight enough not to rub them raw.
I worked my way slowly outside and was two streets away when I 'felt' her return to her house. I quickly contacted Austen, and told her where it was. I reassured her again that I was okay, a total lie, and shielded once more.
